“When I first thought about becoming Jane Austen I had to forget about the fear, or at least choose something else to focus on because it was becoming paralysing, I couldn't focus. I felt frightened, not so much by her fans' reaction to my performance but that I would be playing someone who I think is a legend, who I respect and admire so much. I didn't want to fail, so I was putting a lot of pressure on myself.” ThinkingWantFirstsWould BeFeltForgetFocusFailingFansBecomingPerformancesPressureReactionsAdmireFrightenedLegendsJaneAustenPlaying Someone Author:Anne Hathaway
“Not everyone in an organization is in a position to accumulate power through competent performance because most people are just carrying out the ordinary and the expected - even if they do it very well. The extent to which a job is routinized fails to give an advantage to anyone doing it because 'success' is seen as inherent in the very establishment of the position and the organization surrounding it. Neither persons nor organizations get 'credit' for doing the mandatory or the expected.” PeopleIfsGivingWellsPersonsJobsWorkFailingPositionOrdinaryAdvantagePerformancesOrganizationCreditExpectedEstablishmentInherentCompetenceCompetent Author:Rosabeth Moss Kanter
“The educational process should not be one of homogenizing. It should be one of encouraging excellence... when we fail to make financial aid depend upon performance, we eliminate the incentive to excellence.” ShouldProcessEducationFailingDependsPerformancesExcellenceFinancialEducationalAidsIncentivesFinancial Aid Author:John H. Sununu
“People who underestimate their capabilities also bear costs, although, as already noted, these are more likely to take self-limiting rather than aversive forms. By failing to cultivate personal potentialities and constricting their activities, such persons cut themselves off from many rewarding experiences. Should they attempt tasks having evaluative significance, they create internal obstacles to effective performance by approaching them with unnerving self-doubts” PeopleShouldPersonsSelfFormDoubtCuttingFailingBearsCostActivityTasksPerformancesObstaclesInternalsSignificanceCapabilityUnderestimateSelf-doubtSelf EfficacyRewarding Experiences Author:Albert Bandura
“The gospel shows us that our spiritual problem lies not only in failing to obey God, but also in relying on our obedience to make us fully acceptable to God, ourselves and others. Every kind of character flaw comes from this natural impulse to be our own saviour through our own performance and achievement. On the one hand, proud and disdainful personalities come from basing your identity on your performance and thinking you are succeeding. But on the other hand, discouraged and self loathing personalities also come from basing your identity on your performance and thinking you are failing.” ThinkingKindSelfCharacterShowsProblemHandsSpiritualLyingNaturalFailingIdentityPersonalityProudSucceedAchievementPerformancesObedienceImpulseFlawsAcceptableDiscouragedSaviourLoathingSelf LoathingCharacter Flaws Author:Timothy Keller
“So guys who are otherwise sensitive and thoughtful say and do ridiculously dumb things to impress other guys. It's an enormous performance, but guys know that if they fail, they'll be ridiculed as sissies mercilessly.” IfsKnowsGuyFailingPerformancesEnormousDumbSensitiveThoughtfulImpressOther GuysSissyDumb Things Author:Michael Kimmel